Why are people so judgmental & harsh towards teenage parents?

Yes,sure there are some very irrisponsible teenage parents who may give you reason to have such a negative view on teenage parenting but it seems like no one realizes that there are also some very responsible,mature teenagers.Just the other day there was a 13 y/o girl on yahoo saying that children born to teenage parents are going to be messed up (She used much harsher words) %26amp; the majority of people were agreeing with her.Why?Does no one believe that there are young people who are able to raise a child?Why are people so judgmental %26amp; harsh towards teenage parents?
Simple.


Children don't have sex, it's immoral, it's unacceptable. Once a child has had sex, protected or not, all sense of responsibility and decency has been lost. It's unfortunate that many are lacking in morals and values these days.Why are people so judgmental %26amp; harsh towards teenage parents?
Hey! I'm turn twenty in November, and am expecting a baby in October, so tha classes me as a teenage mum, doesn't it?!


Being a teenager has nothing to do with the quality of the child's upbringing. If you love the child, and treat it right, and teach it right and wrong, there's not much more you can do. I know people in stable relationships in their thirties who have little f**ks for kids!


Granted, there is the point that the older you are, the more life experience you have, and therefore are 'statistically more capable of successfully rearing children'. But who cares about stats?


There are plenty of teenagers who have had children, and lots of those grow up ok. People assume that the small percentage of teenage mums and dads they've seen with children are the bad ones. Surely they've heard of the terrible two's? If the teenage parents are still teenagers, their kids aren't going to be that old, and will be at the 'I'm finding my feet, and my voice' stage still.


Teenage parents are ok.
i was 16 when i gave birth to my first child.. and honestly i KNOW i was a great mom, better than most women who wait until they are older.. I never asked for a sitter so i could go out and party and I ALWAYS put my son first.. I am now 23 and on my 4th child. and i wouldnt change a thing.





sad to say... even though i was a teen mom... now that i am older and i see young girls getting pregnant and having babies, i do tend to think '; she is too young';





yes there are some GREAT teen moms. but then you have teen girls who get pregnant because they want to play house and end up being horrible mothers and in turn give mom's like me a bad name=(





Although I myself wouldnt change a thing.. i still dont recommend teen pregnancy...
Grace,I know what you mean.I have seen teenage parents give advice to others on Yahoo,and in their answers they say that they are teenage parents.And even though they gave brilliant advice they get a thumbs down!I believe that there are some excellent teenage parents,but there are also some bad ones,but it's THE SAME for adults!You get good ones %26amp; you get bad ones!So I agree with you.I have no idea why people are judgmental%26amp; I can't stand people who stereotype!And I'm 25 y/o only in my first pregnancy now but I really feel for teenagers who get negative judgment from people.


E mail me ! :)
I think people look at teenage parents as irresponsible because when they see them, they think about how THEY were at that age or they think of their own children. Of course there are some VERY mature young mothers and fathers. I just think it's not an 'acceptable society norm.' Which is sad, but, like so many other things will probably never change. Just because parents are young, does not mean the child will be messed up. That is just another stereotype most likely written by someone who has never known a teenage parent firsthand.
Sweety I don't think it's so much that people are judgemental, I think it's more concern. I'm a young mommy and I know how hard it is to have to be solely responsible for another human being who will always be your responsibility. And what sort of job do have at 13??? Kiddos need lots of expensive accessories like daipers and stuff...also anyone who doesn't have compassion for a pregnant teenager is an ***, but to all the sweet little girls of the world trust me USE A CONDOM and be the best teenager you can be ... your time to be a mommy will come, and to all the pregnant teenagers be strong my mom gave me some priceless advice ';YOU WILL BE A GOOD MOM millions of women have done it before you and millions will after';





As a teen, finding out that you are pregnant is a life-changing and scary event. As a parent, finding out your teen is pregnant can both shock you and cause despair as you wonder, now what? Before this ever happens, you can help your teen learn important lessons on how to prevent teen pregnancy.





Finding out your pregnant as a teenager can feel disastrous. Suddenly you may think your future plans are gone. You may even have thoughts of suicide. Here are some ideas of what you should do if you find yourself pregnant and suicidal.
let's just say that bringing up a child is a very difficult job, even for a mature, settled adult, let alone for a teenager.


i remember when i was a teenager, and i remember how i used to look at life.


Now, becoming a parent at a young age, does make you more responsible, because you have to grow up! but at whose sake? most teenagers do their best to be good parents, but they have a big price to pay! and not everyone is ready for that type of committment. not because they don;t want to...but because it's just too much.
hi there


I think what it is. is when a teenage mom gets pregnant society feels as though she is screwing up her life because lets face it when you are a teenager you are selfish and when your a parent you have to put your baby first. and i think society feels as though a teenage mother cant do that. I myself think age is only a number because i am going to be 21 and a mother of two under the age of two. i got pregnant when i was 18 it is hard some days but i wouldnt change it for the world. heck i know there are alot of good teenage parents out there and there are alot of bad older parents out there. well i agree with you anda i hope society changes soon


and ignore just me's comment i was a teenage mom like i said and the only goverment aid we get would be our tax return and that is it. she is just sterotyping against teenage moms because she is just reading the statistics instead of realizing there are teenage parents who might not have alot of money and who cant give their kids the best clothes or a fancy house but can survive and live comfortably without the help of government help or help of family
It is because the number of bad teenage parents out weight the number of good teenage parents. Yes there are good ones out there but most people probably have had experiences with the bad one and not the good ones. It shouldn't be something to worry about though. Everyone has their opinions and that will never change.
It has nothing to do that you are not able to raise your child. I personally feel that you have your whole life ahead of you and time to build a career for yourself. If you are going to have sex, be responsible and one day when you have that baby you are able to give him/her your all financially and emotionally.
i think its irresponsible when people make comments that ';EVERY'; teenage parent is a bad parent.


im 17 living with my boyfriend for over a year and 28 weeks pregnant with our first baby. My boyfriend brings home great money and im furthering my education, everything we do is for each other and there is nothing but love in our house. We are able to buy our own groceries have internet cable lights water and pay our rent. and we dont drink (my boyfriend occasionally) and i dont smoke!!


we are so excited about our baby girl and we couldnt be at a happier place in our lives.


age does not determine how good a parent you are or will be. age is simply a number nothing more nothing less.


people just make very rash conculsions.


but its not a crime to speak your mind.
I think that if you have the love and support of your family then the child will not be messed up. It would be intresting if that 13 y/o girl was a teenage parent then what would she do. There are alot of mature young people that are able to raise a child like they need to be. I don't understand ither how some people can be so mean to teenage parents..it's not right.
I think that its messed up ppl do say that. I mean why include every single teenage parent in that. I mean Im 18, pregnant, i work as an LPN at my local hospital and my fiance has already finished school for his job and he brings home major money. And also niether drinks nor smokes and our lives revolve around eachother. I just think that they have no room to talk unless they poll every teenage mom and see how they are doing. Not everybody is an irresponsible person that has babies and forgets about them!!
i dont know....because people think that they are doing something wrong?? dont bother listening to it, i mean, yes- there are a lot of young people who have babies for all the wrong reasons, but there are a great deal of very young mothers who make amazing parents!!! people do believe that they can make good parents, its just not as many these day believe that!
age is nothing but a number. i am 20 years old and im a mother to 3 beautiful children. yea i started young but i would never take anything back. i am a great mother and i take good care of my kids. matter of fact i notice i take better care of my kids then most old moms i see walking around. there are a couple bad apples out there but there is a lot of bad moms that are old too. i am very protective over my kids and i dont let them run around all over the place like most moms do. just because im young doesnt mean im drinking and smoking and letting my kids do whatever... oh no... im a very responsible parent. and im married so that helps a lot too.
As teenagers, you are less likely to be financially stable and us older, more financially stable parents end up paying for your services. We need out tax money to pay for our baby, not some teenagers baby!! It is hard to have a stable job until you're at least in your mid 20's.
raising children is one of the most important jobs. It;s hard to believe that if a teen couldn't make the right choice to not get pregnant how can she make the right choices in raising a child..
I know of this couple whom are teenage parents and they are married and when they are out in public people are often saying aren't you a little to young to be having a baby she said actually i'm not because i love this child
They are being self righteous? I hate that people think that because you are a teen, you can not be a fit parent. While I don't recommend it (been there, it's hard), teens,twentysomethings and beyond can mess up their kids equally. Not everyone is cut to be a parent, regardless of age. I finished high school when I had one child and was pregnant with the second and went on to college had #3 and 4 by the time I had my degree. I did not raise delinquents, all my kids have college degrees and none of my kids have had kids themselves and they are in their mid 20's. I will say it makes a difference if a father is involved-I firmly believe it takes two. It's not your age but the love and nurturing you provide.





If a parent is being harsh with teen parent criticism it is because they want you to accomplish all your goals and dreams before you are saddled down with children. Children are a lifelong commitment not a decision to be taken lightly or an ';accident';-especially not in this day and age.





Ok, I am off the soapbox...LOL!
a teenage parent can be just as good if not better than everyone my aunt was 13 when my cousin was born and she is messed up